BEING A SUNY OPTOMETRY STUDENT... Dear Student,

Welcome to the SUNY College of Optometry!

It is a great pleasure to have you on our campus for the final part of the admissions process - the interview. By being here you have demonstrated that you have the academic qualifications that are essential for success in SUNY Optometry’s rigorous academic and clinical training. You might like to know that only 30% of our applicant pool is invited for an on-campus interview and you are amongst this very selective group.

The purpose of the interview is fourfold: 1- For the Admissions Committee members to get to know you better, including your explorations of the field of optometry, non-academic achievements and assess your leadership and communication skills; 2- For the Admissions Committee members to verify information in your file that may be unclear to them; 3- For you to get to know us better (yes, ask questions!); 4- For us to share how SUNY Optometry might be a good fit for you.

Here are some facts about the format of the interview that you might want to know: • Three members of the Admissions Committee, which includes faculty and staff, will conduct the interview; • This is an “open file” interview, meaning that the interviewers will most likely have read your entire portfolio before interviewing you. They might ask clarifying questions about your academic records and other information mentioned in your file; • The interview is conversational in nature and conducted in a relaxed atmosphere. There will be no tricky questions or “grilling;” • After interviewing all candidates on that day, the committee members will make a recommendation to the director of admissions. They can recommend to: accept you, conditionally accept you (in case you have any pending pre-requisites), place you on hold, in which case the committee will review your file later in the admissions cycle or deny admission. The official decision of the Admissions Committee should be communicated to you in writing in one to two week’s time; • After the interview, a current student at SUNY Optometry will take you on a tour of the College. The tour is not part of the interview process and you will not be evaluated during the tour. We encourage you to ask lots of questions, not only about your guide’s experiences at SUNY Optometry, but also about his or her experience living in amazing NYC.

Now that you know what is ahead of you, take a deep breath. Relax. We understand that you might be nervous and excited about the interview. Remember that you have done your homework – you worked hard to secure good grades during college, you explored the profession and got involved in different activities making you a well-rounded applicant. Now is your time to share those experiences with the Admissions Committee. When the interview is finished, try not to over-think or replay the answers in your mind. Doing this will feed your anxiety and will not be very helpful.

I wish you all the best and good luck in the interview.

Sincerely,

Gui Albieri Director of Admissions and Marketing Interview Day Overview

Orientation When you arrive at the Office of Student Affairs and International Programs, you will be greated by our staff who will give you a brief overview of what you should expect throughout the day.

Interview SUNY Optometry has a panel interview format. You will be interviewed by three faculty members. The interview is very conversational and the main goal is for the faculty to learn about who your are, including your interests, and your experiences. Although some students may consider a panel interview more intimidating, we see it as a larger conversation.

Meeting SUNY Students During your interview day you will have the opportunity to get to know current SUNY students on a personal basis. This is a good opportunity for you to ask questions about their experiences, why they chose SUNY, student life and housing. At about 10:30 am, a current SUNY student will meet you at the lobby of the Office of Student Affairs and International Programs to share his or her experiences with you and answer any questions you might have. You will also be able to meet and interact with current students during lunch.

Director of Financial Aid and Housing On the interview day, you will have the opportunity to meet with the director of financial aid and housing. During this session you will learn more about how to finance your studies at SUNY Optometry and the housing options available to incoming students.

Director of the Career Development Center (CDC) You will also have the opportunity to meet the director of the CDC to learn more about its signature programs, including the Family of Mentors Program, the Annual SUNY Optometry Career Symposium and the many other individualized services available to students and alumni including career counseling, help improving interviewing and resume writing skills as well as other services.

Campus Tour and Lunch You will tour the College with a current student visiting classrooms, the Center of Student Life and Learning, the gym, labs and practice labs. You will also have lunch with two students. This is a great opportunity for you to ask as many questions as possible to get the real scoop of what it is like to be a SUNY Optometry student. Being a SUNY Optometry Student...

SUNY Optometry has a reputation that is second to none, primarily due to its record of outstanding teaching and patient care, nationally and internationally recognized faculty who are leaders in their respective fields, a research program that has been responsible for new discoveries and innovation in the field of eye care and a tradition of graduating highly competent professionals who excel in their fields and become leaders in their respective communities.

SUNY Optometry attracts a highly capable and diverse student body. SUNY’s reputation for having one of the highest board pass rates in the nation motivates students further to work hard and diligently. Students are eager to learn and to become the best professionals they can be. Learning occurs in a collegial environment where students collaborate with one another and with faculty in a supportive and warm way.

SUNY students are devoted to extra-curricular activities as much as they are devoted to their academic and clinical work. As a student you will have the chance to get involved in various professional and developmental clubs and organizations that will hone your leadership skills. You can go on a mission trip abroad or attend an organized optometry meeting. There are countless opportunities to be active and involved.

Moreover, being a SUNY Optometry student is being part of an intellectual and experiential experience that defines students’ professional careers for the rest of their lives. Students make professional and personal bonds that outlast their four years of training at SUNY.

Finally, you will also have time to relax, enjoy and have fun! The College has a number of annual traditions such as a softball game, Halloween and holiday parties that you just can’t miss. You will also be living in and experiencing one of the most exciting cities in the world. New York City offers a myriad of opportunities to unwind, decompress and enjoy life to its fullest.

Your life at SUNY Optometry can be bracketed into five main areas: academic, clinical, developmental, career and social. This guide offers you an overview of each of these areas. Being a SUNY Optometry Student... Academic Life

The SUNY Optometry program offers a perfect blend of academic excellence and hands-on experience. The curriculum integrates the basic biological and vision sciences that form the foundation of clinical practice, teaches the fundamentals of optometry and develops critical thinking for problem oriented clinical care and case decision making. Patient care begins early and continues throughout all four years of the program with increasing responsibilities under the supervision of our clinical faculty at the University Eye Center (UEC) as well as through a minimum of two quarters during the fourth year at externship sites around the country.

The first two years of the program concentrate on students integrating basic biological and visual sciences with clinical practice, while developing an understanding of the theory and fundamentals of ocular examination and evidence-based treatments. Students begin working in the UEC clinics in the first year and continue with greater responsibilities in subsequent years. Direct patient contact begins in the spring of the second year. Third year integrates didactic and clinical teaching further, and students work directly with patients in primary care clinic and gain exposure in various speciality clinics.

Students, working as interns with patient care responsibilities, are assigned to multiple rotations through various departments in the UEC and at least two externship sites at various hospitals and other healthcare facilities as part of our externship program. Opportunities for rotations through one of the College’s international clinical affiliates also exist. After the successful completion of the fourth year, the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree is awarded. Once state licensing exams are passed, the graduate is qualified to begin practicing. Academic Life

Curriculum Overview

First Year During the first year, students are introduced to the profession of optometry, optometric theory and the elements of clinical practice. The program builds from the knowledge base acquired prior to professional school through prerequisites and sets the foundation for advanced didactic and clinical activities during the rest of the curriculum and into optometric practice. Integrative seminar helps students tie the basic and clinic sciences together.

Second Year The knowledge acquired in the first professional year sets the foundation for the second year. Basic knowledge acquired during this year generally is intended to enhance the primary care clinical skills of students. The Integrative Seminar in second year continues to integrate basic and clinical sciences and includes more direct clinical exposure. By the end of the second year, students will be able to perform a comprehensive eye examination and will have seen their first patients in the University Eye Center.

Third Year In the third-year students continue to take didactic courses in areas of ocular disease, contact lenses, binocular vision, public health, and practice development. While course work continues, they are also providing patient care in the University Eye Center (UEC) in primary care and several specialties including vision rehabilitation, contact lenses, pediatrics and ocular disease. The emphasis of clinical education in the third year is in primary care, where students are assigned to small clinical teaching units – called pods – comprised of students and 2 doctors. Each pod meets weekly for a full day clinic session in the Primary Care Service and includes an Integrative Seminar where issues and experiences with patient care are discussed.

Fourth Year Students are assigned to four clinical rotations in the fourth year. Rotations take place in a number of carefully selected internal and external sites in order to allow students to experience a greater variety of clinical environments. These environments expose the fourth- year student to a diversity of ocular and general conditions of patients of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.

SUNY Optometry O.D. degree Fourth Academic Life Third Year Second Year First Year (OD) ofOptometry Curriculum Doctor Year Neuroanatomy Epidemiology Optometric ClinicI V Seminar Integrative Integrated Seminar Optometric &ProceduresTheory III Visual Function: I(A) Sensorimotor Integrated OpticsIII Pharmacology I (B) Microbiology Human Bioscience III Integrative I Seminar Optometric &ProceduresTheory I Integrated OpticsI Anatomy,Ocular &Physiology I Biochemistry Gross Anatomy Human Bioscience I Clinical Internship I Clinical Internship Summer Semester Summer Semester Fall Semester Fall Semester Clinical Internship II Clinical Internship Fall Semester Clinical Seminar (OneClinical Seminar Quarter) Integrative Seminar VI Seminar Integrative Optometric ClinicII FunctionsSensorimotor of Visual Anomalies Contact Lenses II DiseaseII Ocular Fall Semester Ocular DiseaseI Ocular Integrative Seminar Optometric &ProceduresTheory II Visual (B) Function: Sensory Visual (A) Function: Sensory Integrated OpticsII Anatomy,Ocular &Physiology II Biochemistry Human Bioscience II Clinical Internship III Clinical Internship Integrated Seminar Optometric &ProceduresTheory IV Children, Vision &Learning I Visual Function: II Sensorimotor Contact Lenses I Pharmacology II Winter Semester Integrative Seminar VII Seminar Integrative Administration Practice Development & Public Health Optometric ClinicIII Children, Vision andLearning II DiseaseIII Ocular Spring Semester Spring Semester Spring Spring Semester Spring Clinical Internship IV Clinical Internship Spring Semester Spring Academic Life

With an OD degree, you can not only be a good clinician and offer patient care, but you can also do research and business. At SUNY Optometry, we help you achieve all your educational goals.

MBA Certificate Program

Qualified students working toward their OD degree may apply for the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Optometry Business Management. The certificate is offered jointly with SUNY Empire State College, and upon completion, applicable to an MBA in Healthcare Leadership also offered by Empire State College. Students may enter the program in the summer between their first and second year in the professional optometry curriculum. The certificate is a six-course, 18 credit program. Two courses, are part of the optometry curriculum, and four are offered online by Empire State College.

“Everyone is motivated and determined with the same drive. There’s nothing but camaraderie and support.” Academic Life

SUNY Optometry is comitted to advancement of vision care through research. The College offers MS and PhD graduate degree programs in conjunction with the Doctor of Optometry degree. The Graduate Center for Vision Research (GCVR) oversees basic, translational and clinical research conducted by members of our faculty and professional staff—some of the leading optometric researchers working today. Our commitment to research provides opportunities for our students— the next generation of cutting-edge researchers—to be directly involved in this important, often groundbreaking, work.

OD/MS in Vision Science OD/PhD in Vision Science

4 years: Minimum 6 years: Qualified OD students may apply for Students follow the optometry curriculum while admission into the Graduate Program in Vision devoting summers and academic year elective Science leading to the joint OD/MS degree time to graduate seminars and research. At in the fall semester of their first year. Typically, the end of the third year of the OD program, elective time during the regular academic students work full time towards their PhD degree. year and summers is devoted to graduate Upon completion of all PhD requirements, courses and research. Students are able to students return to the OD program to complete fulfill OD and MS degree requirements within clinical requirements. The students are supported four years. Financial support for the dual in their work through stipends and fellowships. degree program comes through fellowships and tuition waivers. Students who are accepted into the OD/MS program do not pay any additional tuition for the MS degree portion of the program. Clinical Overview

SUNY Optometry provides unparalleled academic and clinical training. You will be exposed to patients as early as your first week as a student at the UEC. With approximately 72,000 patient visits annually, and the fact that New York City is the largest and most diverse city in the nation, you will be exposed to an array of interesting and uncommon cases that will train you to be a well rounded doctor.

You will experience an extraordinary array of ocular diseases and visual problems in clinical rotations throughout the UEC as you train with the College’s highly qualified team of health care providers, including optometrists, ophthalmologists and other health professionals.

At the UEC, a staff of doctors, residents and eye care specialists utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to prevent and treat an unparalleled array of eye disease and vision problems.

At the UEC, we’re committed to extending high-quality vision care to a broad range of communities. We are proud to partner with numerous psychiatric centers, hospitals and ambulatory care centers affiliated with the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. Our extensive Vision Screening Program reaches out to children in schools and community organizations throughout New York City.

Through our Homebound program, faculty and student interns provide comprehensive vision care to people with limited mobility across New York City. Beyond New York, UEC faculty and students regularly organize community-service trips to provide vision care to disadvantaged communities around the world.

“The University Eye Center gets very diverse patients. I’ve experienced a range of cases, from basic to complicated.” UEC SERVICES INCLUDE:

Primary Care: Rehabilitation:

• Adult Primary Care • Head Trauma

• Pediatrics/Children with Special needs • Vision Therapy & Rehabilitation

Advanced Care: • Low Vision

• Glaucoma • Sports Vision

• Retina

• Refractive Surgery

• Specialty Contact Lenses

“I’ve traveled to Peru and Rwanda to do vision screenings. These unique experiences will make me a patient, caring, culturally competent doctor.” External Rotations

The fourth year of the professional program at the SUNY College of Optometry is devoted entirely to the Clinical Education Track and consists of a four-quarter clinical rotation system that requires student optometrists to participate in external clinical site training as well as clinical rotations within the UEC.

External clinical affiliations include hospitals, multidisciplinary practices and private practices and provide experiences in primary, secondary and tertiary care settings. These experiences provide participants with a wide range of patient care opportunities.

Each student is required to complete a maximum of three external rotations. Each rotation lasts for one quarter of the academic year (approximately 12 weeks). In addition to externship sites, each student will be assigned at least one internship within the UEC that will provide a broad clinical experience. Students are guided to choose their rotations in a way that promotes balanced exposure to key areas of clinical care. These core experiences will include opportunities in a multidisciplinary setting. Externship prgrams are available in more than 12 states and in Canada, China, and India.

EXTERSHIP LOCATIONS:

INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS: Residency Programs

As a newly graduated optometrist, your clinical competencies in a particular area of vision care can be further developed through SUNY Optometry’s one-year residency program. The College has a rich history in clinical residency education. The Residency in Vision Therapy was the first year-long program in the country.

Throughout the year, residents participate in grand rounds, workshops and/or a series of lectures and seminars at the College. Emphasis is placed on the development of the residents’ didactic and clinical teaching skills. Each resident is required to give a minor and major presentation and submit a paper of publishable quality. SUNY’s unique didactic program provides all affiliated residencies the opportunity to interact with residents and faculty at sites other than their own.

SURBHI BANSAL RESIDENT IN THE VISION THERAPY PROGRAM

RESIDENCY AREAS:

• Ocular Disease • Family Practice

• Cornea/Contact Lenses • Low Vision

• Primary Eye Care • Pediatrics

• Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Developmental Overview

The Office of Student Affairs and International Programs partners with the academic and clinical divisions of the College to enhance student learning, personal development and student satisfaction. Student Affairs includes staff members who are experts on students, their environments and leadership and career development. Utilizing a wide variety of creative and innovative programs and activities, Student Affairs helps to drive the success of students, both while they are in attendance at the College and after they have graduated and started their careers. Through academic support, campus and civic engagement and personal and professional development, Student Affairs, and indeed the entire College community, is committed to the success of our students.

SERVICES OFFERED:

• Tutoring • Leadership Development Workshops

• Academic Counseling • Clubs and Organizations

• Career Counseling • Special Programs and Activities

• Time Management Counseling Developmental Overview

Students at the College have a variety of opportunities to learn beyond the classroom or the clinical setting. Opportunities to engage in various professional and volunteer organizations abound, as well as chances for students to interact and have fun with their classmates.

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS • National Optometric Student Association

• American Academy of Optometry • New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians

• American Optometric Association • New York State Optometric Association

• Political Action Committee (NYSOA)

• American Optometric Student Association • Student Council

(AOSA) • Student Optometric Association for Private

• American Public Health Association Practice

• Beta Sigma Kappa • Student Volunteer Optometric Services for

• Canadian Association of Optometry Humanity (SVOSH)

Students For more information on these clubs and

• California Optometric Student Association organizations, visit www.sunyopt.edu

• College of Optometrists in Vision

Development

• Fellowship of Christian Optometrists

• Lions Club American Optometric Student Association 2013 Spirit Award

Fellowship of Christian Optometrists Oxaca, Mexico

New York State Optometric Association

American Optometric Association - PAC 2012 Congressional Advocacy Conference in Washington D.C.

Lions Club

National Optometric Association New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians Career Overview

At SUNY Optometry, we are highly committed to your career success. The Career Development Center (CDC) is here to help you envision, develop and achieve a fulfilling optometric career.

Through its signature programs and events like the Family of Mentors Program and the Annual SUNY Optometry Career Symposium, the CDC creates opportunities for busy students and professionals to connect and create meaningful relationships important to career development and advancement. Many individualized services are also available for the College community including career counseling, interviewing and resume writing skills as well as others services.

The CDC closely guides students, residents and alumni through key career decision points in their educational and professional development. The highly personalized services and programs include:

• Career counseling • Mock interviews • Market research analysis with special • Preparation for CV/résumé, cover letter and attention on New York State opportunities letter of intent writing • Practice opportunities/placement • Family of Mentors: a mentoring program • Networking meetings designed to engage all in a dialogue about • Organized optometry functions careers in optometry • Liaison between corporate entities and • Special sessions/workshops and short-course student organizations series addressing topics, issues and trends • Lectures and guest speakers that are deemed most relevant to ongoing • Individualized, outside-of-classroom learning career development opportunities

New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians Social Overview

Outside of the classroom, being a SUNY Optometry student means having access to top notch facilities conducive to learning, relaxing and being social, and an array of social activities.

The Center for Student Life and Learning is at the heart of the student experience. It is a three-floor, 20,000-squarefoot, state-of-the-art resource designed to enhance both the educational and daily lives of our students. The Center has advanced learning spaces—including methods lab, seminar space and study rooms—equipped with modern technology, as well as a fitness center, TV lounge, game room and much more.

The Harold Kohn Vision Science Library is one of the largest vision science library in the country. It contains approximately 40,000 volumes and maintains a comprehensive website with links to electronic journals and databases, as well as a wide range of online reference, vision science and general health resources. SUNY Optometry offers a number of social events thoughout the year specially designed for you to relax, connect with students, faculty, staff and ultimately have a good time. Some of our most popular yearly traditions are:

COLLEGE TRADITIONS • VisionWalk

• The Annual Eye Ball • Annual Career Symposium

• Halloween Party • Annual Talent Show

• Annual Picnic

• Holiday Party

• Varilux Optometry Student Bowl Being a New Yorker...

If you are not already from New York, you will have the chance to become a New Yorker for the four years of your optometric education at SUNY Optometry. The College, located on 42nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, is truly at the center of Manhattan, allowing for easy and convenient access to New York City and all it has to offer. It is easy to catch subways and buses to travel from the College, whether to complete an externship at a partner site, do extracurricular community service at an outreach event or enjoy the city’s many sites for culture or entertainment. Bryant Park and the main branch of the New York Public Library are just steps away from the College, providing beautiful scenery and culture right in the neighborhood.

An endless supply of attractions and events exist beyond 42nd Street. There’s always something to do in New York:

• Summer Stage, an open-air concert series in • The Tribeca Film Festival Central Park • Free winter ice-skating in Bryant Park • Thousands of restaurants serving diverse • Madison Square Garden, home to the Knicks cuisine and the Rangers, concerts, dog shows and • Broadway’s selection of musicals and plays track meets • World-class museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim Museum and American Museum of Natural History • Major zoos and botanical gardens • The New York City Marathon Being a New Yorker...

Food. Music. Art. Culture. Parks. Excitment. New York is a sum of many different parts existing together in one of the safest, and diverse cities in the world.

“New York is different from anywhere else. Other schools are on campuses, but the College is in the middle of this unique city.” Directions and Parking Directions By Subway New Jersey Transit (New Jersey, Long Island, The IND Line (B, D, F and M) stops across the points south and north) street at 42nd Street and 6th Avenue. The Flush- ing line (7 train) stops at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue (outside the front door of the New York Parking Public Library). The IRT line (1, 2, and 3) is a one- block walk west at the Times Square station. The There are plenty of parking garages in the city. IRT line (4, 5 and 6) is a two-block walk east at Prices and distance from the College may vary Grand Central Terminal. considerably. We recommend that you use this link to find a parking garage that best suits you: By MTA bus http://nyc.bestparking.com The M42 (crosstown) and M104 (Upper West Side) stop nearby. Express commuter bus lines provide uptown service on Madison and 6th Avenue and downtown service on 5th Avenue.

By Plane SUNY is easily accessible from all 3 New York metro airports: Kennedy, LaGuardia and New- ark Airports. There are several methods for traveling into the city including taxi, subway, private bus or MTA bus. If you take an express bus into Manhattan from the airports, get off at Grand Central station, which is located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue.

By Car From the northwest (upstate New York), the New York Thruway (I-87 and I-287) leads to Manhattan’s east and west sides. From the northeast (MA, CT, etc.), the New England Thruway (I-95) also leads to the east and west sides. From the south (NJ, MD, etc.) the New Jersey Turnpike leads into the Holland Tunnel to lower Manhattan, or the Lincoln Tunnel to midtown Manhattan.

To New York City by Train or Bus The College is located 2 blocks west of Grand Central Station, 9 blocks north of Penn Sta- tion and 3 blocks east of the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Grand Central: Metro North train (Westchester and Connecticut) Port Authority: Interstate and long-distance bus terminal Penn Station: Long Island Rail Road, Amtrak, Accomodations

There are many hotel options a couple of blocks from the College. We encourage you to personally search which hotels best fit your style and budget. You may begin your search by using the following hotel search engines:

The logos below have active links. By clicking on the logo, you will be redirected to the company’s official website.

Students currently enrolled at SUNY Optometry reported staying at the following hotels when they visited the College for their interviews*:

HOTELS:

The Marriott on 41st Street Hotel Mela

Comfort Inn, Times Square Hilton Garden Inn

Holiday Inn, Midtown Roosevelt Hotel

Crowne Plaza Times Square Pod Hotel

Mariott Courtyard

Hotel Mela

Sheraton

Hotel St. James

*This list is compiled based on current students’ recommendations. SUNY Optometry does not endorse, sup- port, or recommend any particular hotel. These are only suggestions.